Teen rescued after being caught in a strong current off a Hawaii Island beach

BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii County rescuers saved a teenager who was swept out in a strong current off a Pahoa beach Saturday afternoon.

The Hawaii County Fire Department said the call for a swimmer in distress came in just before 2 p.m. They responded to an area known as Waawaa near Papio Park at the bottom of Hawaiian Beaches.

Rescuers used a chopper and located a 16-year-old male about 100 to 150 yards off shore.

"A billy pugh net and a rescue swimmer were deployed from chopper 1. The victim was assisted into the billy pugh net and air lifted to a landing zone where he was treated by (medics)," officials said in a news release.

Officials said the boy was caught up in the strong current and unable to swim back to shore on his own.